Flexible conduit connecter



Dec. 22, 1936..

B. T. WECHERS FLEXIBLE CONDUIT CONNECTER Filed July 22, 1935 PatentedDec. 22, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLEXIBLE CONDUIT CONNECTERApplication July 22,

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to flexible conduit connecters, and isparticularly concerned with connecters of the elbow type for connectingthe flexible conduit to an outlet box or switch 5 box or a housing, suchas a transformer housing. In the devices of the prior art, the conduitconnecters are customarily provided with a threaded member whichprojects through the aperture in the box, and a nut is mounted on theinside of the box to clamp the connecter to the box. Where suchconnecters are used on transformerhousings, such as those forignitionitransformers, the housing is customarily filled with a compoundin which the nut is embedded, and if the elbow is secured in oneposition and it is discovered that the elbow should go olf in adifferent direction, it is impossible to turn the elbow withoutloosening this connection to the box because the nut is embedded in thecompound.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improvediiexible conduit connecter of the elbow type, in which the elbow may bemoved to any rotative position with respect to the outlet box or thehousing to which it is connected and secured there without any chance ofthe connecter becoming loose.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved flexibleconduit connecter which is adapted to be secured to the outlet box andto the flexible conduit with a minimum amount of labor, by providing astructure adapted to the use of a single screw, the pressure of which istransmitted both to the clamping means for securing the flexible conduitand for securing the connecter on the box.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved exibleconduit connecter, which may be constructed at a low cost, which isefiicient, sturdy, and involves a minimum amount of machine operation inits manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying drawing, in which similarcharacters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring to the single sheet of drawings,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a connecter constructed according tothe present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View, with the transformer housing andconduit in section;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, taken from the opposite side, of amodification;

1935, Serial No. 32,569

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, taken on the plane i of the line 4-4 of Fig.1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view, taken o-n the plane ofthe line 5-5 of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 6 6 of Fig.4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is an exploded view of the two parts of the elbow connecter; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modification.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, I0 indicates in its entirety the wall of thetransformer housing or outlet box, which in the present embodiment isfilled with a compound II surrounding the transformer and the conductorsI2, I3.

The wall I0 is provided with an aperture I4, within which is riveted aferrule I5 that is provided with a groove I6 in its outer cylindricalsurface I'I. This forms an annular retaining flange I8 for engagingbeyond the connecter parts. The reduced cylindrical portion of theferrule i5 is riveted over at I9 inside the box, and thus the ferrule isxedly secured to the wall |0.

The connecter is indicated in its entirety by the numeral 20, comprisingthe two parts 2| and 22, shown in Fig. 7. The lower half 2| of theconnecter may comprise a metal plate having a partially cylindricalportion 23 and a pair of laterally projecting ears 24 and 25. The ear 25may be provided with a pressed tubular formation 26 surrounding thethreaded bore 21, which is adapted to receive the screw bolt 28. Themember 2| is provided with an offset at 29 so as to bring the end flange30 do-wn into the plane of the groove I6, and to space the curved body23 from the wall I0.

The end flange 3|) is formed with a partially circular groove 3| forengaging in the groove I6 of the ferrule I5. 'Ihe other half 22 of theconnecter 20 may comprise a stamped metal member, which is formed with apartially cylindrical portion 32, which also has a laterally projectingear 33 having an aperture 34 for the screw bolt 28. The part 22 islonger than the part 2| by the diameter of the ferrule I5, as` it isadapted to extend over the end of the ferrule, and it is provided withthe side walls 35, 36 and the cylindrical end wall 31, which surroundsthe ferrule. The ribs 41 on the top and bottom halves of the connecterserve as definite stops for limiting the axial movement of the conduitin the connecter.

Side walls 35, 36 and end wall 31 are provided with the inwardlyextending flanges 38, which are adapted to engage in the groove I5 whenthe aperture 34 is aligned with aperture 21, and the end 3| of member 2|is also in the groove I6. The side wall 3B is also provided with a slot39 for receiving the ear 24.

'Ihe upper half 22 is preferably provided with a transverse inwardlyextending rib 48, and the lower half 2| may be provided with one or moreinwardly extending ribs 4|, 42, these ribs being suitably located sothat when rib 40 engages in the groove of the flexible conduit both theribs 4| and 42 are so located as to engage in grooves below the conduit.These ribs preferably extend at a slight angle, the angle correspondingto the angle of the thread of the flexible conduit so that the ribscomprise portions of threads into which the flexible conduit may bescrewed when the parts are assembled.

The ears 24, 25, 33 and slot 39 are preferably located midway betweenthe ribs 40-42 and the groove-engaging flanges 3|, 38 so that the screw28 may draw both of these members tightly against its associated parts.In other words, when screw 28 is tightened and members 2| and 22 aredrawn toward each other, the flexible conduit 43 is clamped at the lowerend of Fig. 4, and the parts of the ferrule |5 are also clamped betweenthe flanges 3| and 38 at the upper part of the connecter. Flange 3|would be drawn toward the flange |8 of the ferrule, while the flanges 38would be forced against the opposite side of groove I6 of the ferrulel5, and the connecter can be tightly clamped upon the ferrule andconduit by means of the single screw 28.

Referring to Fig. 8, this is a modification in which the housing wall 43of the transformer casing or the outlet box is provided with a stampedtubular formation 44 having an outwardly turned flange 45 forming thegroove 48. In other modifications the ferrule may be provided withthreads and with a nut for securing it to the housing, as shown in Fig.3.

This structure differs from the preceding one only in the fact that theferrule is an integral part of the wall.

It will thus be observed that I have invented an improved connecterwhich is adapted to be turned to any rotative position without aiectingits securement to the outlet box or housing. The elbow may be clamped inany rotative position, and the clamping is effected by means of a.single screw, which not only clamps the flexible conduit, but securesthe elbow at any predetermined angle.

The present device may be constructed with a minimum amount of machinework, and the two parts thereof may be manufactured by stamping andpunching operations.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, manymodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details ofconstruction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes withinthe scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. In a flexible conduit elbow, the combination of a tubular memberprovided with a peripherally extending groove forming a retainingshoulder, a clamping member formed with a curved flange for engaging inone side of said groove, a substantially hemicylindrical clamping memberformed with inwardly extending flanges at one end for engaging in saidgroove, said hemi-cylindrical clamping member having a slot forreceiving a flange carried by said clamping member, and single threadedmeans for drawing said two clamping members together.

2. In a flexible conduit elbow, the combination of a tubular memberprovided with a peripherally extending groove forming a retainingshoulder, a clamping member comprising a plate formed with a curvedflange for engaging in one side of said groove, a substantiallyhemi-cylndrical clamping member formed with inwardly extending flangesat one end for engaging in said groove, said hemi-cylindrical clampingmember having a slot for receiving a flange carried by said clampingmember, and single threaded means for drawing said two clamping memberstogether, said two clamping members having inwardly extending ridgesforming partial threads for engaging a flexible conduit.

BENTON T. WIECHERS.

comprising a plate

